You-Want's Life

Ever since my volunteering trip to rural Sabah in 2017, I have learned that there are kids out there with great potentials but not the privileges to explore them. I have met students who live so deep in the area that it takes them 2 hours to walk to their schools; and some who have only started going to school when they are 9 years old because their parents preferred for them to stay back and help with their farming chores. I felt SO lucky to have basic necessities like electricity supply, internet connection, transport arrangements to schools, and even the ability to read and write well. It hurts me seeing wasted potential in the younger generation, and I would like to extend a helping hand.   Seeing how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the entire nation both economically and socially, I dread to imagine the current situation in rural Sabah. Good for us, Charisma Movement has worked with 3 schools around Kota Marudu in Sabah, namely SK Temunda Salimandut, SK Sampa...

Read previous episode:  WCP by CM Day 2 Part 2/2: Releasing Baby Sea Turtles We left Kemaman early in the morning, with our bags packed, as we head to Kerteh. We were going to spend the next two nights in Kuala Terengganu, which is the state capital of Terengganu.    Similar to the past two days, the representatives from Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (TCS) led the way as they were facilitating our Wildlife Conservation Project by Charisma Movement . We drove past Petronas (Oil & Gas price leader in the region!) buildings- research centres and probably facilities that process petroleum harvested from their off-shore platforms. Terengganu is located in the East Coast of West Malaysia, by the South China Sea where many oil drilling rigs are built. We were excited to check out our next destination, EcoCare Centre Kerteh , as we were promised a series of activities revolving around mangroves.   We started off with breakfast at the centre as we arrived ...

Read previous episode:  WCP by CM Day 2 Part 1: Seeing Sea Turtles For The First Time   It was our second day on the East Coast of Malaysia! We spent our morning in Cherating, Pahang, learning much about sea turtles- a graceful yet highly endangered marine creature. The representatives of Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (TCS) , who had collaborated with Charisma Movement in facilitating our Wildlife Conservation Project, brought us to Rimbun Dahan Turtle Sanctuary after a scrumptious local lunch. Throughout our trip, our meals were arranged by TCS- we got to try some special delicacies from the East Coast including Terengganu's special  Nasi Dagang  (steamed glutinous rice served with fish curry),  keropok lekor  (fried fish cakes), fermented fish sauce and many more.     Rimbun Dahan Turtle Hatchery is popular locally for its long-term commitment in turtle conservation work. Siblings Along and Alang now manage the centre with the h...

So much time has passed and I have learnt so much in life. And I believe it reflects in the evolving style in my poetry. Yes, I still do poetry. It started back in December 2014, almost 4 years now. Poetry has been a sport-- jotting down the voices in my head to clear it; selling my struggles for a vague expression. Looking back at the journey I have made, I see so much more complexity in my poetry now. It used to go short and direct, giving a setting in merely a few lines long. Very simple use of words, very innocent kind of story-telling. I thank poetry, for it has been there when I thought the world has shut me out. It is like a canvas I know I can paint on without the concern of somebody judging me. I mean, people judge anyway, but I know it’s the only platform where I can express without having to feel scared. I have been through both beautiful sunrises and dark hours in life. I couldn’t help but letting most of my poetry describe how dark or depressed my inner personality had be...

Taylor Swift clearly made her fans wait.    When Reputation came out in November 2017, fans had high expectations on the production, knowing the style of music Taylor creates has evolved immensely from late-night sobbing melodies to sonically cohesive arena hits. The first week physical album sales peaked at 1.22 million copies, making the 28-year-old the only artist in music history to have four consecutive albums sell more than one million copies in their respective opening week. Using only black-and-white album art, the production channels a darker and mature tone. Inspired by the online discrimination Taylor received for rumoured dishonesty in her feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, she wisely turned 'snakes' into a notable mascot in promoting the album. Even the lyrics of most the songs on the record spin around the use of symbolisms like witch-burning and narcissism in address of the feud. I find a different taste in the musics recorded. I compliment the fact that...

Off I went, in the spring balminess. Flowers bloomed well but it was the time for war.   How I wished that spring lasted forever, with her carefree chuckles always in the air. Her contagious smile wins over all flowers on Earth.   I could still feel her lips lingering on my neck-- that was the last thing I wished to lose.   Tim and I traveled like any other bold soldier to the camp on foot. The Last War, we called  it. In six months, the chaos would come to an end and it ’s time peace and independence ascend.   I marched on,     with my heart picturing her-     the only thing I fought for-     the sacred light at the end of my tunnel. When all the fighting were over, I would come home to her.   We marched on, as soldiers we battled and waved our swords, we prayed this was the final there could be. Non-stop, Tim bragged ab...

Ivan. What a simple name. I-V-A-N, just that simple. But behind this ubiquitous name, there live thousands of stories. The headboy in school is called Ivan and he has the best grades; the gardener of Nong Chik Garden is an Ivan, he lost a leg in an accident last month; even the rising engineer of Soft Lab Malaysia is also named Ivan. See? That is just how common the name is.   Yet, even though it seems common to most, I have to confess that each time I hear it, a tsunami of emotions strikes me. It triggers a feeling of grief from the back of my mind, shoving up an old patch of memory, reminding me of the death of a lovely boy.   He was Ivan Ronan, young and adorable with that heart-melting little smile and bright blue eyes. He used to be one of the students in the kindergarten I worked in. Born into a loving family, life was simple but perfect for him. He had warm milk to drink every day, plastic toys his father bought for him and enthralling bedtime stories whi...

I reached out, for the seven hundred and sixteenth time. The little girl strode forward towards the park. The lingering confusion clouded my face again, but this time it came along with a deep sense of depression. No one seemed to be able to see me, or hear me. They did not even respond to my touch. No Way, it couldn't be! A sense of panic overwhelmed my mind. I waved my hands aloft, seeking another man's attention as he jogged past me. But as I had feared -- he did not see me.   Nothing actually made sense. It was six o'clock sharp in the evening, I remembered, I was at the square gazing at the town clock. Out of the blue, a blinding light blasted onto me. Its temperature was blazing, which hurt me for a second. Blood spilled everywhere from where I stood, staining my white satin dress a dark scarlet design from the bottom up, just like an April rose, but much darker. Snapped out of my daze, I looked around. A blue car was a few metres away, its driver frantically st...